The Wooden Soldiers of Oz Chapter 3

Morning in Toyland had never shone brighter. It was the perfect day to be up and about, mingling with familiar friendly faces, or in Stan and Ollie's case, receiving the highest honor either of them could have imagined.

"And thus, it is with no small amount of pride that I hereby dub Ollie Dee and Stannie Dum Royal Keepers of the Wooden Soldiers, and Protectors of Toyland!"

The citizens of Toyland cheered as Old King Cole finished his speech and pinned an impressive medal to their shirts. Many threw their hats up in the air and swarmed to where Ollie and Stan stood to congratulate them. Some threw confetti from the upper stories of their homes; Stan made the mistake of looking up with his mouth open and had to spit out quite a bit of it.

Old Mother Peep, who owned the shoe Stan and Ollie called home, dabbed away a tear of joy. They weren't her sons by blood, but to her they were family, and she couldn't have been happier for them. Her eldest daughter, Bo Peep, stood by her with her fiancé Tom-Tom Piper, his arm draped protectively around her. "Oh my boys, congratulations!" Mother Peep cried as she embraced them.

Tom-Tom eagerly shook their hands. "Stan, Ollie, I know I've said it before, but if it wasn't for you and those soldiers –" He motioned to the rows of six foot-high wooden soldiers standing proudly behind them. "Well, Bo Peep and I wouldn't be here right now. Thank you."

Bo Peep echoed that sentiment by planting an affectionate kiss on their cheeks. "Yes, you're both brilliant toymakers and heroes." Stan blushed. Ollie thanked them, and puffed out his chest with pride. "If anyone thinks otherwise about me and Stannie being heroes now, all they have to do is look at this." He proudly displayed his medal, which was identical to Stan's: the gleaming gold on a purple silk ribbon stood out on their frayed and patched clothing.

"I can't wait to wear this at your wedding, Bo. I'll be like a rear admiral, or a general store," Stan proclaimed, confident in his dimwitted idealization. It took Ollie all of his willpower to not correct him. "So, it's safe to assume the wedding will take place after all?" he asked.

Bo giggled. "Yes!" "After everything that's happened, we want to marry as soon as possible," Tom-Tom said. "We decided on having the ceremony about a week from now, though we're not saying anything until tomorrow. Today is your day. Let's celebrate!"

—

The jubilee was the longest and happiest in Toyland's history. The town square was alive with endless dancing and laughter. Stan and Ollie couldn't think of a time where so many people applauded them for something they did. They were simple toymakers who had done little before to earn such recognition. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

More often than not Stan and Ollie made mistakes that got them into deep trouble; though they got by through their earnest hard work and no small amount of dumb luck. The very soldiers they created, and were the reason for this celebration, originally cost them their jobs. But in one night they had gone from ridiculed to beloved by the whole town, thanks to discovering Barnaby's treachery, then rescuing Tom-Tom and Bo Peep from Boogeyland, and finally defeating Barnaby and his army with the help of the soldiers. Nobody had seen Barnaby since that night; it was safe to assume he was gone for good. And Toyland was all the better for it.

After sharing several dances with some of Toyland's most eligible women – all of whom had suddenly realized they were madly in love with them – Ollie and Stan decided to sit the next one out and catch their breaths. A few of the bolder ladies followed them to the nearest bench, giggling and cooing all the way.

"You know, if either of you need some of your old clothes mended, I'd be happy to fix them up for you," Lucy Locket purred, twirling her golden necklace playfully. "It'd be wonderful to have either of you over for dinner sometime. Curds and whey don't taste the same when you're alone," sighed Miss Muffett as she inched closer to Stan. Mary Quite Contrary dropped a daisy chain around their necks. "Some of my finest flowers, my way of saying thank you for saving my garden – and Toyland."

Before Stan and Ollie could respond to this bout of affection, Miss Muffett fluttered her eyelashes and leaned in squealing "Tell us again how you escaped from Boogeyland!" "Yes! You must have been so brave to go there on your own," Lucy chimed in.

"Heh, heh, well, yes. We were very brave, weren't we, Stannie?" Ollie nudged his companion.

"Actually, Ollie, we were both rather frightened –"

"Of course, those Boogeymen were nothing to us," Ollie abruptly continued. "Why, you'd be surprised how much danger we've faced before them! There's nothing in the world that could hope to frighten us –"

"AHEM!"

Ollie leapt into Stan's arms with a cry. Standing behind them, arms folded with a seasoned glower, was their former boss, the elderly Head Toymaker.

"Might I have a word with you two…alone?"

Stan and Ollie quickly nodded. The three ladies skulked away in disappointment.

The Toymaker coughed and readjusted his old green felt skullcap. "Well, this has been a fine celebration, I must say. I can't think of anyone more…deserving." Neither Stan nor Ollie noticed the acid in his tone, or how he forced out the last sentiment with a grin that could scare a crocodile.

"Oh Mr. Toymaker, you don't know how happy we are to hear you say that," Ollie replied cheerfully. Stan nodded in agreement and added innocently "Especially since the last time you spoke to us was when we learned we mixed up the orders for the soldiers then ruined the workshop and you fired us."

The old Toymaker grimaced at the memory. "Yes, about that…" He put on another wheedling smile. "How many people know that you were, ah, dismissed from my service?" "No one but Mother Peep, Bo Peep, and Barnaby," answered Stan.

"Excellent!" The Toymaker clapped his hands. "Now I know you boys have a fancy new title and all those soldiers in your care, but I doubt you'll be paid enough to make the rent each month –"

"Mother Peep doesn't make us pay –"

"In any case," the Toymaker continued, "I'm offering you your old jobs back at the toy factory. You can get right back to work making presents for Santa Claus just in time for Christmas. Perhaps we can even build those marvelous wooden soldiers at the correct height this time, yes?"

Ollie and Stan didn't know what to make of this offer. They weren't the best toymakers but they enjoyed their job, at least when they weren't aggravating their boss. Truth be told, he was the only issue they had with returning to work at the toy factory; the Toymaker had little patience, a notorious temper, and refused to accept less than perfection when it came to the toys he produced. The only time he ever appeared happy at his job was whenever Santa put in an appearance to check on their progress. In fact, the cajoling attitude he had around Old Saint Nick wasn't too far removed from how he was acting now.

"But, what about all the accidents we had? Or the times you yelled at us?" asked Ollie. "Water under the bridge, my boys, water under the bridge," The Toymaker waved. "In fact, looking back on that mishap with the wooden soldier is was quite hilarious, seeing it march around…destroying weeks of hard work…those wasted hours building all one hundred of them to six feet tall…"

"I remember, even old Santy Claus was laughing at it," Stan chuckled, oblivious to the Toymaker stewing in the memory of that particular incident. "Say, does he know you fired us over that or –"

"Do you want the job or not?!" the Toymaker shouted. Stan and Ollie jumped at the sudden change in his mood. After a second of awkward silence, Ollie timidly replied "Yes…but with a small raise, if you please, sir."

"Good. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning." The Toymaker turned to leave until Ollie called out to him again. Cowering slightly under his sour gaze, Ollie said "W-well, it's just that some of the wooden soldiers could use some mending, and Stannie and I had some plans to them even stronger, so perhaps we could use some of the factory's tools to –"

"Yes, yes, whatever. Just be there at eight o'clock sharp tomorrow." The moment the Toymaker stormed off, the two slumped into their seats. Ollie wiped the sweat from his brow. "My, even during a party he's still in such a bad humor."

Stan thought for a moment. "Do you suppose he only gave us back our jobs so he wouldn't be embarrassed if someone learned he sacked us?" "Now that's just nonsense," Ollie scoffed. "He's finally realized how indispensible we are. And you know full well that me and him were always like 'that'." He brought two fingers together to show how close he and the Toymaker were. "Was that before or after he fired us?" Stan asked. "It was when - oh never mind!" Ollie huffed. "Now where's Lucy Locket? I promised her another dance ages ago!"

—

The party came to a gradual end as the sun sank beneath the horizon. Ollie and Stan were dealing with the last of their admirers and Mother Peep had already left to put her many younger children to bed. As for Bo, Tom-Tom was in the middle of escorting her home via the "scenic route" so they could have a little more time together.

"Oh Tom-Tom, I can hardly wait to tell everyone the good news tomorrow," Bo Peep sighed dreamily. "Neither can I," replied Tom-Tom. Bo leaned into Tom-Tom; her blonde curls fell against him like a golden waterfall. The two stopped and gazed at the blushing sunset in quiet contentment.

"Say, Bo, have you given any thought to our honeymoon?" Tom-Tom asked. Bo Peep blinked. It was something she hadn't considered yet. "No, Tom-Tom, I haven't." Tom-Tom smiled.

"Well, I have. Remember after Stan and Ollie tricked Barnaby into handing over the mortgage, when I told you I would take you far away from here, to our own little castle in Spain?"

Bo nodded, curious to see where he was going with this.

"Bo, that's exactly what I had in mind. A honeymoon someplace new, somewhere beyond there." He pointed out over the houses and enormous wall surrounding Toyland to the sprawling green pastures and purple mountains rising above them.

Bo was speechless. Living like a Spanish princess was a lovely dream. That's what she thought Tom-Tom had meant at the time. But actually leaving Toyland was a different matter altogether. No one had ever traveled beyond Toyland's borders before – no one except Mother Goose, that is. Everyone was too preoccupied with their daily routines to think of doing such a thing. That, and the only country beyond Toyland's borders that they were aware of was the mysterious and dangerous Boogeyland. The only people who ever went there and returned alive were Stan, Ollie, Tom-Tom, and herself. Bo was in no hurry to make such a journey again.

"Why, Tom-Tom," she gasped, "wherever did you get such a wild idea?" Tom-Tom, mistaking her bewilderment for enthusiasm, blithely continued. "From Mother Goose. Sometimes I heard her talk about all the places she's been to when she goes and spreads her stories about us around the world to children. I've always wanted to see those places for myself – new lands, new people, big cities, big mountains, and oceans! And out of everyone I know, you're the only one I want to experience them with."

He gently caressed her hand. Bo blushed. "Oh Tom-Tom, I've got a feeling you're just marrying me so we can go on this grand adventure of yours." Tom-Tom laughed, and got down on one knee. "What do you say, Bo? Shall we fly away together to the castle of our dreams?"

Bo felt a song coming on. It was an unusual instinct anyone born in Toyland had, to sing freely about whatever was on their mind. Bo loved it when he Tom-Tom sang to her; he could bolster her spirits or send her drifting off to sleep with his wonderful voice.

Now, however, didn't feel like the right time for singing on her part. The idea of leaving Toyland now when things were finally perfect frightened her. And that wasn't the only thing holding her back…

"Tom-Tom", she interrupted as he opened his mouth, "I-I should talk it over with Mother first. In fact, we should stop and think about this first before we make any plans. We still need to take care of the wedding first, after all."

Tom-Tom stood there frozen; his mouth, once poised to begin a romantic ballad, now dropped into a slack-jawed stare. He thought Bo would have been happy to see the world with him. And she'd never stopped him from singing to her before.

"…You're right. I'm sorry, Bo. I didn't mean to overwhelm you like this." He sheepishly got back to his feet. A minute of silence stretched between them into near-infinity.

Finally, Tom-Tom said, "It's getting late. Your mother will wonder where we are." They rest of the journey home passed without a word from either of them, but at least it was a mercifully short walk.

Bo tried not to show any emotion as they reached the little old shoe she called home. How could she explain to Tom-Tom how she felt? How could she tell him about how she never wanted to leave Toyland again, or that awful feeling she had that Barnaby might not be gone after all? Or of the countless nightmares she had of the old miser forcing her to watch as Tom-Tom suffered cruelty after cruelty, and of his cold, bony hands dragging her beneath the earth? It was too much for her to talk about. Anything she'd say would make her seem like a frightened child. She had already burst Tom-Tom's bubble by not immediately saying yes to his travelling proposal. If she told him why, she was sure she'd be met with condescension and pressure to reconsider.

On the front steps, Tom-Tom took her hand once more. "Bo? When I asked you to marry me, I said I'd do anything to keep you happy and safe, and I meant it. If there's anything troubling you…or if you're having second thoughts – " "I know, Tom-Tom, I know," Bo answered reluctantly. "It's just that…oh, I don't know…" She opened the door a crack, just in case she lost heart. "…Do you really believe Barnaby is dead?"

Tom-Tom let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, Bo –"

Suddenly, an unusually large mouse with rounded ears and little red shorts darted up the steps, through her legs and into the shoe. It ran up the grandfather clock, then stopped and waved cheerfully at the lovers before opening the painted face and slipping inside. An enormous cat carrying a fiddle skidded to a halt seconds before it could bowl over Tom-Tom. The feline shook its fist at the mouse, and slunk off growling.

That was the icebreaker Tom-Tom and Bo needed. Any remaining awkwardness between them melted away at their laughter. They almost forgot what had made them so tense in the first place. A fragment of that worry lingered, like a tiny spider dangling on a thread overhead.

But why spoil such a wonderful day with worries about tomorrow?

Bo Peep ran into Tom-Tom's arms and kissed him with more passion than she had ever dared to before. Not a single soul – except for one mildly embarrassed mouse – witnessed their intimate embrace. And for that short, blissful moment, their worst fears evaporated.

When their lips parted, Tom-Tom gazed at Bo with the deepest love he could barely hope to express. "Good night, my princess. I'm here for you, just a whisper away."

They held each other tightly once more, their devotion reaffirmed through the simplest of acts. The dangers of the past were far behind them now, and as long as they were together, it would stay that way.

Or so they believed.